MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa, the pioneering initiative established to nurture emerging African filmmakers and storytellers celebrated the achievements of its 2024 cohort at its graduation ceremony on December 6 in Lagos, which was the fifth graduation ceremony by the MTF. Every year, the MTF has been training 60 young filmmakers across its various academies through a comprehensive, fully funded cinematography course.
The programme has also been equipping participants with the technical and creative skills necessary to craft compelling stories that highlight Africa’s cultural wealth to worldwide audiences.
Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, Dr. Busola Tejumola, stated that the graduation ceremony was a time to celebrate creativity, dedication and the exceptional achievements of the graduands. Tejumola also stated that in just one year, the students have made great strides including the selection of Non Cras by Elma Baisie at the Life-Off Global Network and Get Out of Your head by Oluwayanmife Arogundade and Winner Achimugu at the Afropolis Lagos 2024.
Atinuke Babatunde, Academy Director of MTF West Africa, noted that the sub-region is crucial to the continent’s film and television industry. She said: “West Africa is a hub of cultural richness and vibrant storytelling, which has been the foundation of its thriving film and TV industry. Through the MultiChoice Talent Factory, we have consistently supported the development of exceptional talents, who are capable of elevating this heritage to global standards.”
During the event the three best graduating students won one-year scholarships to international film schools. Winner Achimugu and Anjoluwa Aluko won scholarships to the New York Film Academy and Zee World, India respectively while Adejo Edebo Emmanuel won a scholarship to learn at MNET Production in South Africa
This year, MTF West Africa collaborated with the Earthshot Prize initiative, producing projects focused on environmental sustainability.